IDF: Up to 400 Israeli Civilians Could be Killed in Future All-Out Missile and Rocket Assault on Home Front

In a future all-out multi-front war, Israel might be struck by as many as 230,000 missiles and rockets, with at least 10,000 evading Israel’s aerial defense network and hitting populated areas, IDF officials told Israeli media outlets on Thursday ahead of a nationwide emergency readiness exercise next week.

Up to 400 Israeli civilians could be killed in such a scenario, military officials predicted.

Israeli border communities in the north and south will bear the brunt of any future aerial assault on the Jewish state. The IDF estimates that 95% of projectiles fired at Israel will be short-range rockets (capable of reaching nearly 30 miles into Israel) carrying 10-kilogram explosive warheads.

Also, central Israel — including Tel Aviv — will not be out of harm’s way, particularly if the war involves Hezbollah. As reported by The Algemeiner, IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Yair Golan said in June that in Israel’s next war with the Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite terrorist organization, dozens of missiles could strike the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.

During the 34-day Second Lebanon War in the summer of 2006, Hezbollah peppered northern Israel with thousands of rockets, and 44 Israeli civilians were killed. But central Israel remained untouched. However, due to upgrades in Hezbollah’s arsenal over the past decade, the IDF believes that would likely not be the case in a future conflict with the group.

Meanwhile, the Hebrew news site nrg reported on Friday that the IDF has plans to evacuate communities within 2.5 miles of the Gaza border during a future conflict with terror group Hamas. According to the report, only emergency response teams of 20-30 people would be left behind in each community.

During Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014, Israeli communities adjacent to the Gaza border faced heavy barrages of mortar fire which took the lives of several civilians — including four-year-old Daniel Tragerman in Kibbutz Nahal Oz.

As part of next week’s four-day Home Front Command drill, air raid sirens will be sounded across Israel twice on Tuesday.